Panel construction



INVENTORS. 7 ENE) A. SCARLET? GEF/ILLf MFR/6' ETAL Dec. 18, 1951 L. H. PRICE, SR.

PANEL CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Aug. 2, 194a Patented Dec. 18, 1951 Anthony Scarlett, San Francisco, Calif., assignors to Price Building Specialties (30., San Fran- .cisco, Calif., a firm Application August 2, 1948, Serial No. 42,034

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-34 This invention relates to an improved door-and panel construction.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a metal panel construction particularly adapted for use in theconstruction of partitioning doors and panels; such as are commonly found in public lavatories and like places.

Another object of this invention is to provide a metal panel unit having a substantial thickness which comprises a pair of telescopically cooperating-pans which when assembled together are held in operative relationship with one another by novel locking means. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved metal panel construction which is characterized by a high degree of heat and sound insulating properties.

Another object of thi invention is to provide a panel construction having a substantial thickness which requires 'no screws or bolts in its assembly.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved metal panel construction having insulating properties, which is simple to assemble and install, and which is of sturdy and rugged construction.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each ofjthe several views.

In the drawings j Figgl is a perspective view of an assembled panel unit showing parts thereof broken away in section.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a panel unit showing its manner of assembly.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on either line 3a-3a. and/or line 3b-3b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a panel unit disposed between two vertical studs and showing parts of the panel unit broken away in section.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of an end-corner of an assembled panel unit.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, an assembled panel unit comprises a first pan, indicated generally at A, formed preferably of resilient metal, such as sheet steel, and a second pan formed similarly to pan A and indicated generally at B, and preferably, a sheet of suitable soundand heat insulating material disposed between'pan A and B, indicated generally at C. The pans are preferably die stamped.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 pan other suitable means.

A may be formed from a fiat rectangular piece of sheet metal or other suitable resilient material, provided with diagonal slits I at its four corners to enable the marginal edges of the rectangular piece to be bent outwardly at substantially right angles to the plane of the flat section 9 to form marginal flanges 8. Pan B is formed similarly to pan A and comprises afiat section II with marginal flanges l2 extending outwardly therefrom and'lying'in a plane substantially normal to the plane of flat section I l. i I

Marginal flanges 8 of pan A and marginal flange l2 of pan B are curvilinear in cross-section, and the edges of flanges 8 are folded outwardly anddoubled back along flanges 8 to form outer locking strips l3 having abutment edges M. The edges of' flanges l2 of pan B are folded inwardly and doubled back along the inner sides of flanges l2 to form inner locking strips [5, having abutment edges l6.

The outside outer margins of pan A, as defined by flanges 8, arefslightly smaller than the inner margins of pan B, as defined by flanges l2, in order that pan A can be telescoped or snapped into pan B in the manner indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably a sheet of suitable insulating material C is disposed in proper alignment between pan A and B during the panel assembly in orderto' incorporate said insulating material within the assembled panel unit. It is evident that when pan A is telescoped into pan B corner slits 1' permitflanges 8 of pan A to besprung inwardly, whereas the corner: slits of pan B permit flanges I=2 'to' be: sprung outwardly during the assembly operation. The natural elasticity of the material used, such as metal, returns the flanges 8 and 12 to their original position wherein it is seen that edges iii of inner locking strips [5 snap into abutting and locking engagement with complementary edges [4 of outer locking strips l3 of pan A.

In the panel construction hereinabove described it is seen that flanges 12 of pan B form rounded and finished top, bottom and side edges of an assembled panel unit.

Although the telescopic locking engagement between pans A and B, as above set forth, is sufflcient to maintain the assembled panel unit together for all practical operational purposes, we prefer to weld the open seams formed by corner slits l in order to present a flat smooth and continuous corner surface which may be painted, enameled, or attractively finished by Similarly, open seams 20 which are formed where the edges of flanges l2 of pan B join the flat section 9 of pan A may be welded, as indicated at H, in order to present a, more finished appearance.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a preferred modification of the panel construction which said particular embodiment is especially suited as a partitioning wall between adjoining stalls or booths and, wherein said panel is disposed between and supported at its opposite ends'by vertical studs, such as indicated at H. struction it is necessary only to provide the tops and bottoms of the two telescopically coacting pans A and 'B' with outwardly extending marginal flanges 22 and 23, respectively. It will suf- -fice to relate merely that flanges 22 and 23 are formed substantially in the same manner as are flanges 8 and 12 of pans A and B, and are arranged and constructed to telescopically engage In this type of con-- and lock with one another substantially in the same manner as set forth with respect to the description of the manner of assembly of pans A and B. The vertical edges 24 and 25 of pans A and B which abut directly against studs 2| are not flanged but may be directly Welded to the studs, such as indicated generally at points [8 in Fig. 5. A suitable sheet of insulating material, as indicated generally at C, may be disposed between telescopically coacting pans A and B in a manner substantially as was described with relation to the insertion and assembly of insulating sheet C within pans A and B.

Although we have described our invention in some specific detail for purposes of illustration and by way of example, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a panel construction a first pan comprising a flat section and marginal flanges extending outwardly from and in a plane substantially normal to said flat section, said marginal flanges having their edges folded outwardly and doubled back over themselves to substantially half-way points of said flanges to form outer locking strips, a second pan comprising a flat section and having marginal flanges extending outwardly from and in a plane substantially normal to said flat section, said marginal flanges'of saidsecond pan having their edges folded inwardly and doubled 69 back over themselves to substantially half-way points of said flanges to form inner locking strips complementary to said outer locking strips of said first pan, the marginal flanges of said first pan extending outwardly from the flat surface thereof a distance substantially equal to the distance that the marginal flanges of said second pan extend outwardly from the flat surface of said second pan said marginal flanges and said outer locking strips of said first pan telescoped substantially wholly withinthe marginal flanges and complementary inner locking strips of said second pan with the edges of the locking strips in abutment, whereby said pans lock together to form an assembled panel unit.

2. In a panel construction a first pan comprising a flat section and marginal flanges extending outwardly from and in a plane substantially normal to said'fiat section, said marginal flanges being curvilinear in cross section, said marginal flanges having their edges folded outwardly and doubled back over themselves to substantially half-way points of said flanges to form outer locking strips, a second pan comprising a flat section and having marginal flanges extending outwardly from and in a plane substantially normal to said flat section, said marginal flanges of said second pan being curvilinear in crosssection, said marginal flanges of said second pan having their edges folded inwardly and doubled back over themselves to substantially half-way points of said flanges to form inner locking strips complementary tosaid outer locking strips of said first pan, the marginal flanges of said first pan extending outwardly from the flat surface thereof a distance substantially equal to the distance that the marginal flanges of said second pan extend outwardly from the flat surface of said second pan said marginal flanges and said outer locking strips of said first pan telescoped substantially wholly Within the marginal flanges and complementary inner locking strips of said second pan with the edges of the locking strips in abutment, whereby said pans lock together to form an assembled panel unit.

LONGUEVlLLE H. PRICE, SR. HENRY ANTHONY SCARLETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Borghesi Aug. 31, 1948 

